Two young men were forcibly recruited into military service after responding to a job advertisement for security positions at Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone in Hlaing Tharyar Township, Yangon Region, offering a monthly salary of 510,000 kyats. The incident, which occurred on May 4, was reported to Yangon Modern News by friends of the detained youths. The case highlights the military’s deceptive recruitment tactics targeting civilians under false pretenses.
Maung Zaw Htet Lin and Maung Ye Naung, both 25 years old from Thanatpin Township in Bago Region, contacted the phone number listed in a leaflet advertising security positions at the Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone in Hlaing Tharyar. After being instructed to come to Yangon, they traveled to the city on May 4 to apply for the positions. However, they disappeared after arrival, and all contact with them was lost. It wasn’t until May 8 that they were able to inform their families that they had been taken to the Danyin Gone military recruitment camp in Insein Township.
Prior to their arrival in Hlaing Tharyar, the young men had been required to send their personal information and photographs via Viber. Upon reaching Hlaing Tharyar, they were met by two men in civilian clothes on motorcycles who then transferred them to a hired vehicle that took them to the Danyin Gone recruitment camp. Their mobile phones were confiscated upon arrival at the facility. They were only able to contact their families on May 8 by paying to use a soldier’s phone within the camp. The two young men are now scheduled to attend the 13th intake of military training beginning this month.
Friends of the detained youths have warned others about the dangers of responding to job advertisements promising high salaries, particularly those related to security positions. This incident represents a pattern of deceptive recruitment practices by the military, where civilians are lured with false job promises and then forced into military service. The victims’ associates emphasized the importance of being cautious about such job offers, especially those promising attractive salaries with minimal requirements. This case demonstrates the ongoing forced recruitment tactics employed by the military council, highlighting the need for increased awareness among young job seekers about such deceptive practices.
